$15,500 Distributed in First Round of Branford Community Foundation and Ascend Bank 2026 Sponsorship Awards

The Branford Community Foundation (BCF) is pleased to announce the first round of 2026 sponsorship awards in partnership with Ascend Bank (formerly GSB). The first round of funding will be awarded to 14 organizations receiving a combined total of $15,500. $30,000 in total is available in funding for 2026 from BCF and Ascend Bank.

The sponsorship award recipients are:

Branford Festival Corp, 2026 Father of the Year Contest

Branford High School Performing Arts, Disney’s The Little Mermaid

Branford Land Trust, Events and Speakers

Branford Parks & Recreation Department, TGIF Concert Series

Branford Road Race, Branford Road Race Silver Sponsorship

Camp Rising Sun Inc., 24^th Annual Night Out to Benefit Camp Rising Sun

Community Dining Room, 2026 Fundraising Events

James Blackstone Memorial Library, Mini Golf at Blackstone Library

Read to Grow, Inc., Spring Into Reading: Family Day

SARAH Foundation, 2026 SARAH Gala

Shoreline Arts Alliance, Tassy Walden Awards

Shoreline Theatre Company, Into the Woods and Shrek Jr.

Tabor Lutheran Church, Soup’s On

Women & Family Life Center, 2026 EmpowHER Gala

Sponsorships are considered for a single event (i.e. gala, road race, etc.) or a series of individual events held by an organization over a given time period, to increase visibility or for fundraising. The remaining deadlines for sponsorship applications are April 15 and July 15, 2026. To learn more and apply for a 2026 sponsorship, please visit branfordcommunityfoundation.org/grants.

The Branford Community Foundation, founded in 1980, is a public, nonprofit, tax exempt, charitable trust. It provides an administrative, philanthropic service – a means by which public-spirited citizens may make gifts or bequests, the income from which is distributed for educational, cultural, health, social, and civic needs. The Foundation is overseen by the Board of Directors, composed of community leaders who serve without compensation and who have been selected for their knowledge, interest, and integrity of judgment. A part-time Executive Director works with the Board of Directors, and Advisors provide outreach with the community, give guidance to the Board, and help to develop future leadership.

For more information on upcoming grants, sponsorships, and community events, or to make a contribution to the Branford Community Foundation, please visit branfordcommunityfoundation.org.